Travel Tips -
Perfect Cruise

10
Steps to Enjoying the Perfect Cruise

Although these steps are meant for honeymooners,
most of the information is relevant to any
cruise:

1. Find your dream boat. The biggest mistake
cruising newbies make is booking the wrong ship.
Most people focus on the destination (Caribbean,
Mexico, etc.) and don’t pay enough attention
to the ship itself. &nbspCruise lines—and
even individual ships within a line—vary
greatly in terms of atmosphere and facilities.
Some have a party-all-the-time ambience and/or
a great gym and spa; others are ideal for curling
up on deck with a good book. So work with a travel
agent who&nbspspecializes in cruising.
Discuss your budget and what you are looking
for, or &nbspbetter yet, arrive at the agency
with your personal wish list in hand.

2. Book early. There are two ways to get the
best price on a cruise: book early or book at
the very last minute. Both will save you money,
but early bookers get the best choice of cabins
for roughly the same “sale” price
as late bookers—and avoid being disappointed
because their ship is sold out. "Early" usually
means three to six months before the cruise;
the savings generally are 25 to 50 percent off
the published brochure price per person.

3. Get the best cabin you
can afford. Some people say that it doesn’t
matter what your cabin is like, since you’ll
only dress and sleep there. Not so! If this is
your honeymoon,
you’ll want every detail to be perfect.
Don’t assume anything: queen-size and even
double beds and bathtubs are not givens on a
ship. While some cabins do have oversized beds,
in others single beds are pushed together for
couples. In some cases (mostly on older ships),
the beds are nailed to the floor, not exactly
a honeymoon dream come true. Most cabins have
small (single-occupancy) showers, not bathtubs,
so if you like to soak ask for a room with a
tub. Most important, a nice cabin makes you more
inclined to enjoy things like room service and
sipping morning coffee in your PJs. The ultimate
luxury: a private veranda so you can leave your
sliding-glass doors open and fall asleep to the
sounds of the sea.

4. Take care of business. A bit of preparation
pays off in a carefree trip. In the pre-wedding
whirlwind, it’s easy to forget that life
will go on while you’re away. Such as the
mail (stop it.) And bills (pay them.) And your
pets (kennel them.) Tape a "To Do" list
to your fridge, and check things off as you go.
Don’t forget to shop for film, extra batteries,
sunscreen and travel-size toiletries. These are
more expensive to buy on the ship, and you may
not find your favorite products. Consider filling
small plastic containers with conditioner and
shampoo from the big bottles, which you can leave
at home.

5. Pack light, pack right. Be prepared for the
off chance your luggage will get misplaced. Even
if your bag isn’t lost, it often takes
hours before it gets to your cabin. So pack for
survival: Put a little of everything you’ll
want and need in &nbspa carry-on bag. This
includes undies, shirts, socks, a bathing suit
and &nbspsomething to wear to dinner. As
added protection, buy travel insurance
that covers you for lost, stolen, damaged or
delayed luggage.

6. Beat the rush. On most cruises, you’ll
want to schedule all kinds of things. So will
everyone else usually at the same time. Shore
excursions are described in a brochure that comes
with your cruise tickets; book any excursions
you can’t bear to miss early on (Increasingly,
lines allow you to book them before you leave
home.) It’s also a good idea to make your
spa appointments and specialty restaurant reservations
on the first day of the cruise so you don’t
lose out.

7. Be shore-savvy. Some shore excursions are
worth taking.&nbspOthers are not. How do
you know the difference? Take shore excursions
when they offer a chance to do something really
spectacular—like helicopter flightseeing.
A car and driver can be a more personal (and
less costly) way to sightsee. To make it more
fun (and affordable), put your own group together
and share the ride with newfound friends you’ve
met on board. But note: if you go solo and miss
the boat, you’re on your own.

8. Get the royal treatment. Ask your agent about
cruise lines that pamper their passengers with
in-room extras like terry cloth robes, fruit
baskets and the like. Let the cruise director
know you’re newlyweds. Ask about honeymoon
and anniversary parties, dinner at the captain’s
table and other special recognition. You can
also buy packages that include things like a
formal portrait in an engraved frame and a champagne
breakfast in bed. Most lines also tailor packages
for couples who want to kick off their honeymoon
with a wedding.

9. Stuffing the envelope. The last night of
the cruise is a bittersweet time. You’ve
had fun. You’re going home. And then there’s
that little business of tipping to take care
of. Remember that tipping is always entirely
up to you. Most cruise lines will recommend just
how much to tip. (About $3.50 per passenger for
the waiter and cabin steward and $2 a day for
the busboy.) These are only guidelines; tip what
you want. You should never feel pressured. The
maitre d’, for example, need not be tipped
just for asking, "How was your dinner?" On
the other hand, if he made your cruise extra
special by finding that table for two, let him
know with a monetary gesture that says, "Thank
you."

10. Cruising for romance. On most cruises, you’ll
be assigned a dinner table (usually with other
passengers) and time (early or late) for the
entire trip. See the maitre d’ as soon
as you board to specify which seating you prefer;
also let him know if you prefer a table for two
and be sure to advise him of your newlywed status.
After dinner, remember that the hot tubs never
close, and you’ll probably find yourselves
alone under the stars. For more alone time, stay
on the ship when everyone else goes ashore it’s
like having your own private yacht.